Coin storing and displaying devices



y 7, 1964 R. BURDlCK 3,139,977

com STORING AND DISPLAYING DEVICES Filed Aug. 20, 1962 l' 2| C' 26 23INVENTQR RICHARD BURDICK mm 1 m'lllllllwm mlllll- \-|llll K FIG. 8ATTORNEY United States Patent C) 3,139,977 COIN STORING AND DISPLAYINGDEVICES Richard Burdick, 3400 Armstrong Ave., Dallas, Tex. Filed Aug.20, 1962, Ser. No. 217,965 8 Claims. (Cl. 206-.83)

This invention relates in general to coin storing and displaying devicesand, more particularly, to a nurnismatic device adapted to house,protect, and individually display, valuable coins.

It is quite common among numismatists to collect socalled proof-sets ofcoins, which are originally minted, uncirculated coins which are given aspecial high-polish. Similarly, such collectors usually value andendeavor to obtain circulated coins which have a similar high-polish.

In fact, many coin collectors painstakingly polish circulated coinswhich they may acquire to create this highly polished condition. Thus,the coins in such a coincollection must be carefully protected so thatthey will not become scratched, scarred, or otherwise damaged, since thevalue of a coin, as a collectors item, is attributable not only to itsrarity and its face-value, but also to its perfection as a specimen. Thecoins, moreover, must be protected not only from physical dam-age due tohandling and from being scratched by contact with other coins, but alsofrom tarnishing as a result of chemical action with oxygen and othercomponents of the atmosphere. Heretofore, various types of coin-holdershave been utilized, but they are expensive, somewhat cumbersome tohandle, and do not exclude air.

In addition to protecting highly polished valuable coins, it is alsohighly desirable to house them in such a manner that they can be easilyand conveniently examined in minute detail. Most numismatists prefer touse a magnifying glass for such examination, particularly whenpurchasing a coin for collection purposes. To this end, it is desirablethat a coin storing and displaying device be both transparent andcapable of affording some type of magnifier which is built in so tospeak so that the capability of providing magnification is inherentlypresent in the coin-holder without resort to a conventional type ofmagnifying glass.

It is, therefore, the primary object of the present invention to providea coin-holder which will protect the coin and also clearly display bothsides thereof.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a coin-holderof the type stated which can be quickly and easily set up for receivingand displaying coins of various diametral sizes and also is capable,when closed, of excluding substantially all air so that the danger oftarnishing is essentially eliminated.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a coin-holderof the type stated which has a built-in magnifier to permit minuteinspection and examination of the coin.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention resides in thenovel features of form, construction, arrangement, and combination ofparts presently described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing (one sheet) FIG. 1 is a perspective view ofa coin-holder constructed in accordance with and embodying the presentinvention;

FIG. 2'is' an exploded perspective view of the coinholder;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an exploded side elevational view of the coinholder,illustrating the manner in which the magnifier may be used;

FIG. 5 is a modified form of'a coin-holder constructed 3,139,977.Patented July 7, 1964 in accordance with and embodying the presentinvention;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a modified form of thecoin-holder;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 77 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 8 is an exploded side elevational view of the modified form ofcoin-holder, illustrating the manner in which the magnifier may be used.

Referring now in more detail and by reference characters to the drawing,which illustrates practical embodiments of the present invention, Adesignates a coinholder comprising a cylindrical base member 1 molded orotherwise suitably formed of a transparent synthetic resin such a methylmethacrylate, for example, and integrally comprises a concentric bottomflange 2 and an upstanding narrow annular wall 3 having a smooth outerface 4 and a similarly smooth inner face 5 terminating in an upwardlypresented flat face 6, thereby defining a cylindrical recess 7 having aflat bottom wall 8 which is preferably co-planar with the upwardlypresented face of the flange 2.

Provided for snug-fitting disposition within the recess 7 is an insertdisk 9 preferably formed of synthetic resin and having a peripheral face10 and bottom face 11 adapted to fit against the inner face 5 and bottomwall 8, respectively. The insert disk 9 is also provided with a dishedor lenticular top face 12 and centrally provided with a circularcoin-receiving pocket 13 which extends axially therethrough, openingflush upon the bottom face 11 and top face 12.

Provided for snug-fitting disposition over and upon the base member 1 isa matching top member 14 also molded of a transparent synthetic resinand including a cylindrical annular rim 15 which fits tightly butremovably around the annular wall 3 of the base member 1. The top member14 is provided exteriorly with a flat top face 16 and interiorly with alenticular face 17 marginally bounded by an annular concentric face 18so as to fit tightly and conformably upon the faces 6 and 12 of thebottom member 1 and insert disk 9, respectively, as best seen in FIG. 3.

At its center, the coin-receiving pocket 13 has an axial height slightlygreater than the thickness of the thickest coin in the series for whichthe coin-holder is designed. Thus, for example, if the coin-holder A isintended to accommodate any one of the series consisting of an Americanhalf dollar, quarter, nickel, penny and dime, the same basic member 1can be used for any one of them simply by using an insert disk 9selected from a series having coin-receiving pockets'13 diametrallysized for the different coins. At their respective outer or peripheralmargins the coin-receiving pockets 13 are axially thicker because of thecurve of the lenticular faces 12, 17. Furthermore, assuming that thelargest coin in the series and the corresponding insert disk 9 is inplace, there will be a slight amount of vertical clearance within thecoin-receiving pocket 13 so that the upwardly presented face of the coinC, as shown in FIG. 3, will not scratch the face 17.

When a coin C is to be placed in the coin-holder A, an insert disk 9having a properly sized coin-receiving pocket 13 is selected and seatedwithin the recess 7 so that it is flush as shown in FIG. 3. The coin Cis then pushed firmly into the coin-receiving pocket 13 so that it, too,is flush on its under face' against the bottom wall 8. Thereupon, thetop member 14 is pressed down coverwise upon the bottom member 1 and asthe lenticular face 17 comes down upon the lenticular face 12 it will,in effect, squeeze most of the air radially outwardly to the rim 15 andthence along the face 4. The rim 15, being relatively thin, and slightlyelastic, as compared with the rest of the structure, will yield veryslightly under the pressure of interior of the coin-holder A, exceptthat very slight volume within the upper portion of the coin-receivingpocket 13 resulting from the lenticular shape of the face 17. It hasbeen found that this latter amount of air is so slight that it will notcause any discernible tarnishing of the coin C. Moreover, when thushoused within the coinholder A, the coin C will not only be protected,but will be clearly displayed to the maximum degree so that both sidesof the coin C, as well as the peripheral or coined margins, will bedisplayed with maximum visibility. If a coin-collector desires toexamine the coin C, it is merely necessary to lift up the top member 14,as shown in FIG. 4, adjusting its relative height to suit the vision ofthe user and the coin C may be viewed under magnification.

It is also possible to provide a modified form of coinholder A, as shownin FIGS. to 8, inclusive, which is substantially similar to thepreviously described coinholder A, and includes a base member 1identical in all respects with the previously described base member 1.The base member 1 is of a transparent synthetic resin and integrallycomprises a flange 2, an annular side wall 3 having an inner face 4', anouter face 5', and a top face 6', defining a shallow cylindrical recess7 having a fiat bottom wall 8.

Provided for cooperation with the base member 1 is an insert disk 19which has an outer cylindrical face 2% adapted :for snug-fittingdisposition within the recess 7' in the same manner as the insert disk9. The insert disk 19 differs, however, from the insert disk 9 in thatit is of uniform thickness and has flat parallel bottom and top surfaces21, 22, which are respectively flush against the bottom wall 8' andflush with the top face 6. Centrally formed in the insert disk 19 andextending axially therethrough is a coin-receiving pocket 23 which, aspreviously described, is diametrally sized to fit one particular coin C.Thus, the coin-holder A can be adapted for any one of many differentlysized coins by employing an insert disk 19 which has an appropriatelysized coin-receiving pocket 23.

Provided for cooperation with the base member 1 is a matching top member24 also molded of a transparent synthetic resin and integrallycomprising a cylindrical annular rim 25 adapted to fit snugly andembracingly around the annular wall 3. The top member 24 is providedinternally with a flat face 26 and externally with a lenticular face 27.The flat face 26 fits flush upon the top surface 22 of the insert disk19, all as best seen in FIG. 7. In this so-called closed positionsubstantially all air will be expelled from, and excluded fromunauthorized re-entry into, the interior of the coin-holder A insubstantially the same manner as previously described in connection withthe coin-holder A. Similarly, the lenticular face 27 causes the topmember 24 to serve as a magnifying lens in the same manner as the topmember 14 and when the top member 24 is held upwardly in spaced relationto the base member 1 as shown in FIG. 8, it will greatly enlarge theappearance of the coin C.

It should be understood that changes and modifications in the form,construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of thecoin storing and displaying devices may be made and substituted forthose herein shown and described without departing from the nature andprinciple of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

1. A coin-holder comprising a receptacle member having acontents-receiving recess defined by a continuous annular side face anda bottom face, and a matching cover member shaped to fit snugly upon thereceptacle member and extend closurewise across the recess formed 4 oftransparent material, and an insert disk removably disposed in saidrecess and being peripherally shaped to fit snugly and conformablywithin the recess in substantially continuous abutment around the sideface thereof, said disk having a coin-receiving pocket, said covermember being provided with an optical magnifier having a curved surfacewith a focal length which will magnify the insert disk disposed in oneof said members when one of said members is spaced from the other ofsaid members.

2. A coin-holder comprising a receptacle member having acontents-receiving recess defined by a continuous annular side face anda bottom face, and a matching cover member shaped to fit snugly upon thereceptacle member and extend closurewise across the recess formed oftransparent material, and an insert disk removably disposed in saidrecess and being peripherally shaped to fit snugly and conformablywithin the recess in substantially continuous abutment around the sideface thereof, said disk having a coin-receiving pocket, said covermember being provided with an optical magnifier in superposed relationto the coin-receiving pocket, said magnifier having a curved surfacewith a focal length which will magnify one of said members when one ofsaid members is spaced from the other of said members, said insert diskhaving a dished out surface which is adapted to conformably receive thecurved surface.

3. A coin-holder comprising a receptacle member having acontents-receiving recess defined by a continuous annular side face anda bottom face, and a matching cover member shaped to fit snugly upon thereceptacle member and extend closurewise across the recess formed oftransparent material, and an insert disk removably disposed in saidrecess and being peripherally shaped to fit snugly and conformablywithin the recess in substantially continuous abutment around the sideface thereof, said disk being formed of material of contrasting color tothe two first-named members and having a coin-receiving pocket, saidcover member being provided with an optical magnifier having a curvedsurface with a focal length which will magnify the insert disk disposedin one of said members when one of said members is spaced from the otherof said members, said insert disk having a dished out surface which isadapted to conformably receive the curved surface. 4. A coin-holdercomprising a receptacle member having a contents-receiving recessdefined by a continuous annular side face and a bottom face, and amatching cover member shaped to fit snugly upon the receptacle memberand extend closurewise across the recess formed of transparent material,the upper face of the receptacle member outwardly of the annular sideface being concave, the under face of the cover member being ofcomplementary convex shape so as to fit snugly and abuttingly againstthe concave face of the receptacle and across the top of the recess insuch a manner as to exclude substantially all air from the interior ofthe coin-holder, said convex portion of the cover member furthermorebeing of such shape in relation to the external surface of the covermember as to cooperate optically therewith in the provision of acircular shaped optical magnifier having a curved surface of revolutionand an axis of revolution which extends through the center of saidcurved surface, said curved surface being provided with a focal lengthwhich will magnify the pocket disposed in one of said members when oneof said members is spaced from the other of said members.

5. A coin-holder comprising a receptacle member having acontents-receiving recess defined by a continuous annular side face anda bottom face, and a matching cover member shaped to fit snugly upon thereceptacle member and extend closurewise across the recess formed oftransparent material, the upper face of the receptacle member outwardlyof the annular side face being concave, the under face of the covermember being of complementary convex shape so as to fit snugly andabuttingly against the concave face of the receptacle and across the topof the recess in such a manner as to exclude substantially all air fromthe interior of the coin-holder, said convex portion of the cover memberfurthermore being of such shape in relation to the external surface ofthe cover member as to cooperate optically therewith in the provision ofa circular shaped optical magnifier having a curved surface ofrevolution and an axis of revolution which extends through the center ofsaid curved surface, said curved surface being provided with a focallength which will magnify the pocket disposed in one of said memberswhen one of said members is spaced from the other of said members, andmeans for releasably holding the two members together.

6. A coin-holder comprising a receptacle member having acontents-receiving recess defined by a continuous annular side face anda bottom face, and a matching cover member shaped to fit snugly upon thereceptacle member and extend closurewise across the recess formed oftransparent material, and an insert disk removably disposed in saidrecess and being peripherally shaped to fit snugly and conformablywithin the recess in substantially continuous abutment around the sideface thereof, said disk having a coin-receiving pocket, said covermember being provided with a circular shaped optical magnifier formed byan inwardly presented lenticular surface of revolution with a focallength which will magnify to its full extent the center of the insertdisk disposed in one of said members when one of said members is spacedfrom the other of said members by a distance equal to said focal length,said insert disk having a flat under face disposed in snug fittingabutment against the bottom face of the cover member, said insert diskalso being inwardly dished on its other face to fit against saidlenticular surface.

7. A coin-holder comprising an upper and a lower circular shaped memberformed of a transparent material, said lower member including a base, anupstanding flange formed with said base and forming a recess in saidlower member, an insert disk removably disposed in snug fittingrelationship within the recess of said lower member and having acoin-receiving pocket, said insert disk having a flat face disposed inabutment against the base, said upper member including a top face, adepending rim integrally formed with said top face and being tightly butnevertheless removably disposed around said upstanding flange, and acircular shaped optical magnifier formed in said top face insuperimposed relation to said coin-receiving pocket, said magnifierhaving a curved surface of revolution and an axis of revolution whichextends through the center of said curved surface, said curved surfacebeing provided with a focal length which will fully magnify the centerof the insert disk disposed in the lower member when the lower member isspaced from the upper memher.

8. A coin-holder comprising an upper and a lower circular shaped memberformed of a transparent material, said lower member including a base, anupstanding flange formed with said base and forming a recess in saidlower member, an insert disk removably disposed in snug fittingrelationship within the recess of said lower member and having acoin-receiving pocket, said insert disk having a fiat face disposed inabutment against the base, said upper member including a top face, adepending rim integrally formed with said top face and being tightly butnevertheless removably disposed around said upstanding flange, said rimhaving a slightly greater elasticity than the remainder of said uppersection so as to yield slightly under the outflow of air when said upperand lower sections are assembled, and an optical magnifier formed insaid top face in superimposed relation to said coin-receiving pocket,said magnifier having a curved surface of revolution and an axis ofrevolution which extends through the center of said curved surface, saidcurved surface being provided with a focal length which will magnify thepocket disposed in one of said members when one 8f said members isspaced from the other of said memers.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,258,535 Buranelli Oct. 7, 1941 2,318,850 Grant May 11, 1943 2,434,553Ensley Jan. 13, 1948 2,521,792 Hollander Sept. 12, 1950 2,817,434Schmetz et al Dec. 24, 1957 3,028,949 Sohosky Apr. 10, 1962 3,052,344Frank Sept. 4, 1962

1. A COIN-HOLDER COMPRISING A RECEPTACLE MEMBER HAVING ACONTENTS-RECEIVING RECESS DEFINED BY A CONTINUOUS ANNULAR SIDE FACE ANDA BOTTOM FACE, AND A MATCHING COVER MEMBER SHAPED TO FIT SNUGLY UPON THERECEPTACLE MEMBER AND EXTEND CLOSUREWISE ACROSS THE RECESS FORMED OFTRANSPARENT MATERIAL, AND AN INSERT DISK REMOVABLY DISPOSED IN SAIDRECESS AND BEING PERIPHERALLY SHAPED TO FIT SNUGLY AND CONFORMABLYWITHIN THE RECESS IN SUBSTANTIALLY CONTINUOUS ABUTMENT AROUND THE SIDEFACE THEREOF, SAID DISK HAVING A COIN-RECEIVING POCKET, SAID COVERMEMBER BEING PROVIDED WITH AN OPTICAL MAGNIFIER HAVING A CURVED SURFACEWITH A FOCAL LENGTH WHICH WILL MAGNIFY THE INSERT DISK DISPOSED IN ONEOF SAID MEMBERS WHEN ONE OF SAID MEMBERS IS SPACED FROM THE OTHER OFSAID MEMBERS.